2008 Woodie Awards
File sharing risks on the rise
Christina Santucci--The Greyhound (Loyola College-Maryland)
Issue date: 9/17/03 Section: Campus Life
- Page 1 of 1
(U-WIRE) BALTIMORE - As the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) wavers in its campaign to eradicate illegal file sharing, the judicial policy for students on the Loyola network remains "informal" despite rumors circulating on campus.
On Monday Sept. 8, an amnesty offer for individual violators was made available by the RIAA, and in response to the Clean Slate Program, the general public of the state of California sued the RIAA the following day for fraudulent business practices in Marin County Superior Court.
The recording industry initiated the Clean Slate Program to allow those participating in illegal file sharing to sign a notarized form which would require them to delete all criminal material and prohibit them from partaking in illegal file sharing in the future. For their cooperation, files sharers would be exempt from the multitude of lawsuits that the RIAA has initiated against individual violators.
At the same time as their announcement to alleviate punishment from file sharers who turn themselves in, the RIAA files lawsuits against 261 individuals who allegedly offered to share their illegally downloaded material.
In terms of ending illegal file sharing at Loyola, both Technology Services and Student Life believe that the college is making a concerted effort to end illegal file sharing and educate students about possible consequences.
"The RIAA is getting much more rigorous in terms of prosecuting offenders," said John McFadden, CIO and assistant vice president of technology services.
When the RIAA suspects illegal activity on the Loyola server, the Department of Technology Services are notified who subsequently transfer the matter over to the Office of Student Life.
"If they are reporting to us a specific user who is downloading music, movies or games, we educate them and request that they cease and desist," said Leonard Brown, director of student life.
If illegal file sharing persists or if the student is involved in an egregious incident, such as downloading material, burning it onto CDR's, and selling it, a fine of up to $500 may be levied in addition confiscation of internet privileges.
As a result of recent litigation, the RIAA may request the names of network subscribers from colleges when 900 schools were subject to investigation. Although Loyola was not listed among colleges forced to name users, the RIAA reported 11 incidents of illegal file sharing on the Loyola network last year, five music, four movie, and two games. Only one complaint to date has been responded to for this year, and that student who was involved with illegal file sharing was brought to the attention of Student Life on Aug. 20. From the Office of Student Life, an average of 20 cases of illegal downloading are addressed each month, most of which being video games and movies. This figure rose considerably from an average of two per month which occurred up until the beginning of the spring 2003 semester.
"Our goal is to let students know that if you are doing things through the Loyola server that are illegal, we have to address it," said Brown.
On Monday Sept. 8, an amnesty offer for individual violators was made available by the RIAA, and in response to the Clean Slate Program, the general public of the state of California sued the RIAA the following day for fraudulent business practices in Marin County Superior Court.
The recording industry initiated the Clean Slate Program to allow those participating in illegal file sharing to sign a notarized form which would require them to delete all criminal material and prohibit them from partaking in illegal file sharing in the future. For their cooperation, files sharers would be exempt from the multitude of lawsuits that the RIAA has initiated against individual violators.
At the same time as their announcement to alleviate punishment from file sharers who turn themselves in, the RIAA files lawsuits against 261 individuals who allegedly offered to share their illegally downloaded material.
In terms of ending illegal file sharing at Loyola, both Technology Services and Student Life believe that the college is making a concerted effort to end illegal file sharing and educate students about possible consequences.
"The RIAA is getting much more rigorous in terms of prosecuting offenders," said John McFadden, CIO and assistant vice president of technology services.
When the RIAA suspects illegal activity on the Loyola server, the Department of Technology Services are notified who subsequently transfer the matter over to the Office of Student Life.
"If they are reporting to us a specific user who is downloading music, movies or games, we educate them and request that they cease and desist," said Leonard Brown, director of student life.
If illegal file sharing persists or if the student is involved in an egregious incident, such as downloading material, burning it onto CDR's, and selling it, a fine of up to $500 may be levied in addition confiscation of internet privileges.
As a result of recent litigation, the RIAA may request the names of network subscribers from colleges when 900 schools were subject to investigation. Although Loyola was not listed among colleges forced to name users, the RIAA reported 11 incidents of illegal file sharing on the Loyola network last year, five music, four movie, and two games. Only one complaint to date has been responded to for this year, and that student who was involved with illegal file sharing was brought to the attention of Student Life on Aug. 20. From the Office of Student Life, an average of 20 cases of illegal downloading are addressed each month, most of which being video games and movies. This figure rose considerably from an average of two per month which occurred up until the beginning of the spring 2003 semester.
"Our goal is to let students know that if you are doing things through the Loyola server that are illegal, we have to address it," said Brown.